Readers are invited to a forthcoming author talk -The Order – at the Gozo Central Public Library, St. Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo, on Wednesday, the 27th of May 2026 from 10.30am – 11.30am. This free talk will be given in English.

”When a great armada of Ottoman ships appear on the horizon off Malta in 1565, Jean de Valette, the Grandmaster of the Knights of Saint John, must find the courage to defend the island against overwhelming odds. The fate of Europe hangs in the balance.

”Peter Portelli masterfully weaves story and history to form an interesting tapestry of fast unfolding adventures of love, hate, bravery, betrayal, victory, and defeat. Intriguing, informative, and entertaining!” (Review of The Order by Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, Source: Midsea Books, 2023).

At this library event, the Maltese author will talk about his writing in general, both as an artistic expression and as a craft, and explain why he chose to focus on historical fiction as his preferred genre.

Peter will also discuss the importance of driving a story forward with the plot or characters and share insights into why he focused on the Great Siege as the main subject for his critically acclaimed debut novel.

He will also look at the challenges and opportunities when being published in Malta and abroad, and the reception his first novel received back in 2023. The author said that he would love to bring The Order to a wider audience and will share details of possible future prequels and sequels and other writing ideas he has planned.

Peter Portelli was born and raised in Malta. Years of working in and around buildings built by the Knights infused in him a fascination about the Order of Saint John. It was this fascination and a passion for Maltese history that led him to write his first historical novel, ‘The Order,’ based on the Great Siege of 1565.

The Order is now in development. In December 2025, Peter authored his second novel, ‘Odysseus’ Choice’. Peter also writes short stories, three of which were published in the United States and ‘Read the Sign’ was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

The Order and Odysseus’ Choice are both published by Midsea Books.

For more details about this free event, please visit the Facebook page of Gozo Central Public Library

Seat reservations are encouraged by sending an email to eventsgozo.library@gov.mt

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